Into the Black Nowhere Quotes

“Intimidation was a drug. But control was an illusion.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“God save us from people who think they know what’s best for us.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“They pulled off a twisting country road and bumped along a rutted gravel driveway. Rocky promontories barred their view until they topped a rise and found a half-are property where the cabin faced south, toward the red clay river that lazed across the horizon.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“The hills of southern Oklahoma slow-rolled across the winter-gold prairie, dipping to rivers and creeks, thick with leafless trees. The road curved through farmland and past a Chickasaw resort and casino.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“On a whiteboard, a detective had written Tips called in: 452. Tips cleared: GET TO WORK.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“She thought of the FBI Crime Classification Manual: Mercy/ Hero Homicide. Mercy killers murdered in the genuine belief that they were relieving their victims’ suffering. Hero killers recklessly committed homicide by inducing a crisis so they could save the day. They were firefighters who set a blaze, then arrived to fight it. They were nurses who caused patients to code, so they could revive them. They reveled in the rush and the praise that came from bringing people back from the brink. When they botched it, their victims died.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“You were young,” Rainey said. “Of course you expected to escape. That kind of luck can convince you you’re immortal.” Caitlin touched her right arm, where the tattoo read, the whole sky. Rainey didn’t know about its meaning to her. It was a line from Rita Dove’s poem “Dawn Revisited.” The whole sky is yours to write on, blown open”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Woman,” Michele said. “You look like you’re calling from a cave. Tell me Texas hasn’t retreated to the dark ages.” “It’s ahead of California, if you ask the sun, and everybody in the state,” Caitlin said.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Caitlin felt a surge of excitement. But five minutes later, Rainey read through the records and shook her head. “Eight years’ active duty, multiple deployments, Purple Heart, honorable discharge—he’s not the UNSUB.” “Why not?” Caitlin said. “The UNSUB loves violence. Multiple deployments to active war zones would give him cover to commit atrocities.” “Our UNSUB loves violence he can control. And war is never controllable.” Rainey’s voice had a harsh edge. “He loves violence he can inflict, against people who are in no position to fight back. The United States has a volunteer army—people join knowing they might go into harm’s way. The UNSUB wouldn’t touch that with a tent pole.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Signature, clearly. Elaborate and specific.” Caitlin said, “Staged by a man who looks like Mr. Ordinary. Somebody who keeps the monster in a mental cage.” “And when he unlocks it, he kills,” Emmerich said. “Viciously. He’s a grandiose narcissist. His rage and sense of entitlement drive him to destroy the happiness of others.” Caitlin stuck her hands in her back pockets. “He’s got to have burning memories of rejection that stoke him. Convince him his actions are justified. Women hurt him, so he hurts women.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Ligature marks,” she said. “Skin irritation. Duct tape.” Detective Berg knelt beside the body. “It’s Phoebe Canova.” Caitlin stepped back mentally, seeing the victim’s body in its entirety. Her field of vision continued to expand. Then goose bumps rose. Around Phoebe’s body, maybe six feet away, photos were stuck in the ground like headstones. They were Polaroids. Caitlin stepped back physically. The photos showed women in white nightgowns. They were blond. Some were alive and terrified. Most were dead. Rainey spoke in a low voice. “Holy Jesus. How long has this guy been killing?” Caitlin counted the photos. There were twelve.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Looking at the shell of a young life, she always felt a stab in the heart. And in this job, grief didn’t lurk—it swarmed. She now tried to dodge the creeping pain and analyze the scene with fresh eyes.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“If you spot anything out of the ordinary, something that seems wrong, I urge you to contact the sheriff’s department. Anything that could relate to the missing victims. Discarded items of clothing. Shoes, purses . . .” Brittany took a step back and snapped her fingers. “Shiner. Drop it.” The dog let the cloth fall to the porch. Brittany swallowed and clutched Tanner tight. “Shiner. Inside.” The dog ran into the kitchen. Brittany followed, bolted the door, and found her phone. In the background, the FBI agent’s voice cut the air. With shaky fingers, Brittany called 911. “I need the police. My dog just brought home half a shirt. And it’s covered in blood.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Did you join the Bureau to get as far from that case as possible?' Rainey said.
'I took this job to make a difference.'
'Honey.' The tries rang on the concrete. 'Course you did. We all did. You can say you love it. You're scared of it. You're proud. You're a badass bitch. Girl Scout with a twelve gauge. Reading psychopaths' minds is your superpower.' She cut a glance Caitlin's way. 'you can dig it.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“She felt a pang, a deep wish for the bay, the soaring towers of the bridge, the sunlight skipping across ten thousand whitecaps between the Golden Gate and Alcatraz. She wanted the scent of the Pacific and the beauty of the cities and the mountains, and her man. She closed her eyes.
She opened them and felt small, surrounded by the sweep of the continent. The sky was vast. It was glorious and terrifying.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Coming, baby,' Shana murmured.
She tossed back the covers, brushed her sleep-tangled hair from her face, and slogged out of the bedroom. The hardwood floor creaked beneath her bare feet. Jaydee's cries grew clearer.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Crying Call nestled in a river gorge, with raw peas on either side. The red stone, the dark green of the pines, the white glaze of snow, and the arching, varnished sky spread around her. She stopped at the overlook and inhaled it al. Her heart was pounding, but with life. A hawk swooped past, screeching.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

“Then she stepped through the door....She stopped so hard that Rainey bumped into her from behind. She went cold. If she'd been a dog, she would have dug her paws in and laid her ears flat and backed out, growling.”
― Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere